Display mount for flat articles

ABSTRACT

A mirror, picture or similar flat article of rectangular outline is positively gripped on at least one pair of opposite sides by two brackets with beveled flanges drawn toward each other by clamps and/or springs.

United States Patent 2,599,259 6/1952 Hooks .1 248/488 2,810,226 10/1957Horwitt 40/155 FOREIGN PATENTS 211,636 11/1957 Australia 40/1521 PrimaryExaminer-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-\Venceslao J. ContrerasA!torney Karl F. Ross ABSTRACT: A mirror, picture or similar flatarticle of rectangular outline is positively gripped on at least onepair of opposite sides by two brackets with beveled flanges drawn towardeach other by clamps and/or springs.

PATENTEUJUL 6|97l 3,590,510

SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTOR. THEODORE SALZ ATTORNEY PATENTED JUL 6197i 3,590510 A sum 2 or 3 I250 azsb INVENTORI THEODORE SALZ BY (K r CR0 ATTORNEYSHEET 3 OF 3 FIG.9

IN VENTORI THEODORE SALZ ss K r ATTORNEY PATENTEU JUL 6 I9?! FIG.|I

DISPLAY MOUNT FOllt FLAT AIR'II'IIIJIES My present invention relates toa display mount for flat arti cles, such as pictures or mirrors, whichhave a generally rectangular outline with at least one pair of parallelsides and which are to be hung from a wall or placed on a table in avertical or inclined position.

In my copending application Ser. No. 750,719, filed Aug. 5, I968, I havedisclosed a display mount for such articles wherein a back panelisdivided into two complementary portions which, upon being fittedtogether, positively engage a rectangular front panel with beveled edgesthat are overlain by similarly beveled peripheral formations or flangesholding that front panel firmly against the back panel, with possibleinterposition of a picture or the like between the two panels if thefront panel is transparent. The beveled shape of the flanges avoidsunsightly and obtrusive encroachments visible from the front and affordsa tight'hold on the article without marring its exposed surface.

My present invention relates to a further development of such a mountand has for its main object the provision of a simplified constructionof this character which, in addition, is more universally applicable toarticles of different sizes. In accordance with the present improvement,I provide at least one pair of spaced-apart brackets which, whileperforming the task of the aforementioned back panel in myaboveidentified prior application, do not interfit but are drawn towardeach other by springs, clamps or similar tensioning means so that theirforwardly projecting beveled flanges, overlying two parallel edges ofthe article to be mounted, positively engage that article.

Owing to the gripping force exerted by the tensioning means, it is nolonger necessary to engage the article on all four sides since thefriction generated by the two confronting flanges will usually sufficeto prevent the article from slipping out laterally. If desired, however,such positive four-sided engagement may be provided with the aid of asecond pair of brackets whose beveled flanges converge forwardly on animaginary line perpendicular to the line of convergence of the flangesof the first pair. In fact, each bracket of the first pair may berigidly joined with a respective bracket of the second pair to form twoangle members adapted to grip diagonally opposite corners of arectangular board, transparent panel, mirror or the like, thisconstruction being again not limited to rectangles or squares of fixedwidth and height.

The brackets or their interconnecting tie means may be connected toeyelets, wires or other suspension means for hanging the mounted articlefrom a wall or may have easelforming extensions for placing the articleon a horizontal supporting surface.

As shown in my copending application, a front panel (transparent or not)may be provided as a carrier for the article to be displayed if thelatter is not self-supporting. This front panel may again be formed withbeveled edges along its sides gripped by the converging bracket flangesalthough such beveling is not essential ifa slight overhang of the paneledges can be tolerated from an esthetic point of view. It is alsopossible to line the confronting surfaces of the two flanges with aresilient or at least deformable layer capable of adapting itself to theshape of the corresponding front panel edge which may be transverselyconvex, for example, so as to afford a firm positive grip.

The above and other features of my invention will become more fullyapparent from the following detailed description of certain embodiments,reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective rear view of a display mount embodying myinvention;

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are views similar to FIG. ll, illustrating severalmodifications;

FIG. 5 is a perspective rear view of a four bracket assembly adapted tobe used in a display mount according to my invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. d, showing a modification of thatassembly;

FIG. '7 is a cross-sectional view of a display mount similar to thatshown in FIG. I; and

FIGS. flll are fragmentary sectional views, similar to FIG. 7,illustrating further modifications.

In FIG. l, I have shown a display mount designed to hold a flat articleIt) of generally rectangular outline, e.g. a piece of wood or cardboardcarrying a picture on its front surface not visible in the drawing. Theboard lltl is juxtaposed with a front panel ill (see also FIG. 7) havingupper and lower beveled edges 111, Ill: engaged by correspondinglybeveled flanges lZa, I21; of a pair of brackets llla, 11% which areindependently movable behind board ill while resting against the rearsurface of the latter. The beveled surfaces of flanges 112a and 12bconverge forwardly toward an imaginary line L, FIG. 7, so that a viewerstanding in front of the assembly will see only a very narrow portion ofthese flanges and will not see anything else of the brackets 13a andlilb integral therewith. At the same time, owing to the positiveengagement between these flanges and the panel edges Ila and H17, thestack Ill, ll is firmly gripped by the flanges as the two brackets aredrawn toward each other as indicated in FIG. l by arrows A and B.

In the embodiment of FIG. I, the means urging the flanges 12a and I2];into contact with edges llla and Ella are shown as a pair of contractilesprings M anchored to a pair of profiles l5a, llfib integrallyprojecting from brackets ll3a and 13b toward the rear. In the otherwiseidentical arrangement of FIG. 2, the profiles 15a, 1% are traversed by apair of bolts 16 which are secured to the lower profile 1512 by nuts notshown and whose heads I? are held spaced from the upper profile I54 byrespective compression springs Id.

FIG. 3 shows a further modification wherein the profiles 15a and 1512are interconnected directly by bolts 16 under tension from nuts l9,without the interposition of springs.

In each of these instances, as will be readily understood, theseparation of the two brackets 13a, 13b is variable Within certainlimits so that the corresponding dimension of the front panel Ill andboard It) may also vary. The other major dimension of the stack 10, llcan also be freely chosen since their transverse edges need not coincidewith the ends of the flanges 12a, llZb as shown in FIGS. l -3.

In FIGS. l and 2, in which the two brackets with their beveled flangesand interconnected profiles extend horizontally, l have shown differentmeans for suspending the assembly from nails or hooks on a wall. In FIG.I the suspension means is in the form of a wire or cord 2t! which freelypasses through a pair of holes 231 in the upper profile llSa and throughsimilar holes, not shown, in profile l5b, the projecting ends of thecord being knotted to form abutments which bear upon the underside oflower bracket llfib. Although the cord or wire 20 could be attacheddirectly to the upper profile llSa, the ar rangement shown is preferredespecially in the case of heavier units since the weight thereof willthen not distend the springs M. Similarly, an eyelet 22 shown in FIG. 2is articulated to a rod 23 which freely traverses a center hole of upperbracket Mia and is anchored to lower bracket lSb, thereby again avoidingany additional loading of springs I8.

In FIG. 3, where the brackets 13a and 13!: extend generally verticallyrather than horizontally, the profiles 15a and 1512 are secured by theirtie bolts to to a strap 24 to which an easel 25 is riveted at 26. Theeasel may be swung about the rivet through an arc of with simultaneousshifting of strap 24 as shown in dot-dash lines, to let the brackets liehorizontally as in FIG. I.

In FIG. 41, l have shown a mount generally similar to that of FIG. 3wherein, however, a pair of easel-forming extensions a, l25b of bracketsll3a, I113!) are drawn together by a pair of bolts lilo mating with nutsH9. This. construction is particularly adapted as a holder forrelatively small photographs or the like to be placed on a table ordesk.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the principles of my invention may be extendedby the provision of two pairs of brackets 213a, 21% and 21l3c, llllfldorthogonally related to each other, these brackets being generallysimilar to those illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and being provided withrespective front flanges 213a, 212b, 2120, 212d and rear profiles 215a,215b, 215e, 215d. A common tensioning device, including a rectangularcentral frame 226, serves to draw the brackets of each pair toward eachother, this device also including extensible tie means (here simplyshown as contractile springs 214) for exerting the necessary clampingpressure which causes the flanges 2I2a 212d to grip respective edges ofthe rectangular front panel 211.

In FIG. 6, Ishow again two pairs of brackets 1513;, 313b and 313C, 313d,yet in this case the brackets 313a and 3130 as well as the brackets 3l3band 313d have been combined into respective angle members whose flangesengage diagonally opposite corners of front panel 311. Theinterconnecting tensioling means, here shown as springs 314, againcreate stresses drawing the two brackets of each pair toward each other,with enough adjustability to allow for dimensional changes of theengaged front panel.

In the preceding Figures the front panel has been shown with at leastone pair of beveled edges conforming to the inclination of the flangesby which they are gripped. It is, however, also possible to use theflanged brackets of my invention with front panels having straight ortransversely curved edges or, in fact, to dispense with such front paneland to have the flanges bear directly upon parallel but not necessarilybeveled edges of an ordinary glass pane, picture-mounting board orsimilar article. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a flange 12 of abracket 13 may slightly overhang the front surface of a straight-edgedglass pane 11 so as positively to lock it into position against abackboard l0, e.g. with a photograph, painting or document 27 sandwichedtherebetween.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, a lining 28 of compressible and preferablyresilient material (e.g. foam rubber) is secured to the inner surface ofthe beveled flange l2, i.e. to the surface confronting the companionflange not shown, this lining being designed to fill the void 29 seen inFIG. 8. According to FIG. 10, the lining may be part of an extendedlayer 28 of foam rubber or the like enveloping the flange l2 andoverlying part of the rear surface of bracket 13.

FIG. 11 illustrates how the lining 28' is deformed on being forced intocontact with a convex edge 11' ofa glass pane 11, thereby againpositively engaging that pane without a major overhang when the bracket13 is urged toward its mate by tensioning means here shown as aturnbuckle 30.

Naturally, the various tensioning, suspension and/or supporting meansshown in different Figures may be interehangeably used with one another,and with or without deformable linings of the type illustrated in FIGS.9ll.

The term beveled," as herein used, is intended to refer to acute anglesa (FIG. 7) in a range of substantially 30 to included with the frontsurface of the article to be displayed.

I claim:

I. A display mount for a flat article of generally rectangular outline,comprising at least two spaced-apart brackets disposed at the rearsurface of said article, said brackets having rearwardly bent profilesand further having forwardly projecting beveled flanges converging tothe front of said article on an imaginary line parallel to a pair ofparallel sides of said outline, said flanges respectively overlying saidparallel sides, and tie means anchored under tension to said profilesfor drawing said brackets toward each other, thereby holding saidflanges in positive engagement with said article.

2. A display mount as defined in claim 1 further comprising atransparent panel in front of said article having a pair of oppositeedges substantially registering with said parallel sides, said edgesbeing beveled parallel to said flanges and being gripped by the latter.

3. A display mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said brackets areprovided with deformable linings on the confronting surfaces of saidflanges.

4. A display mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said tie means isadjustable.

5. A display mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said tie meanscomprises at least one spring and said profiles are arrangedhorizontally one above the other, further comprising suspension meanstraversing the upper one of said profiles and secured to the lower oneof said profiles.

6. A display mount as defined in claim 1 wherein said profiles arearranged generally vertically and said coupling further includes aneasel secured to said tie means.

7. A display mount as defined in claim I wherein said profiles arearranged horizontally one above the other, further comprising an easelsecured to the upper one of said profiles.

8. A display mount as defined in claim 1 wherein the outline of saidarticle has another pair of parallel sides transverse to thefirst-mentioned pair, further comprising two other spacedapart bracketsat said rear surface extending orthogonally to the two first-mentionedbrackets and having forwardly projecting beveled flanges overlying saidother pair of sides while converging to the front of said article on animaginary line parallel to said other pair of sides, said tie meansengaging said other brackets and drawing same toward each other.

9. A display mount as defined in claim 8 wherein each of saidfirst-mentioned brackets is rigid with a respective one of said otherbrackets and forms therewith an angle member, said outline having a pairof diagonally opposite corners respectively engaged by the two anglemembers so formed.

1. A display mount for a flat article of generally rectangular outline,comprising at least two spaced-apart brackets disposed at the rearsurface of said article, said brackets having rearwardly bent profilesand further having forwardly projecting beveled flanges converging tothe front of said article on an imaginary line parallel to a pair ofparallel sides of said outline, said flanges respectively overlying saidparallel sides, and tie means anchored under tension to said profilesfor drawing said brackets toward each other, thereby holding saidflanges in positive engagement with said article.
 2. A display mount asdefined in claim 1 further comprising a transparent panel in front ofsaid article having a pair of opposite edges substantially registeringwith said parallel sides, said edges being beveled parallel to saidflanges and being gripped by the latter.
 3. A display mount as definedin claim 1 wherein said brackets are provided with deformable linings onthe confronting surfaces of said flanges.
 4. A display mount as definedin claim 1 wherein said tie means is adjustable.
 5. A display mount asdefined in claim 1 wherein said tie means comprises at least one springand said profiles are arranged horizontally one above the other, furthercomprising suspension means traversing the upper one of said profilesand secured to the lower one of said profiles.
 6. A display mount asdefined in claim l wherein said profiles are arranged generallyvertically and said coupling further includes an easel secured to saidtie means.
 7. A display mount as defined in claim l wherein saidprofiles are arranged horizontally one above the other, furthercomprising an easel secured to the upper one of said profiles.
 8. Adisplay mount as defined in claim 1 wherein the outline of said articlehas another pair of parallel sides transverse to the first-mentionedpair, further comprising two other spaced-apart brackets at said rearsurface extending orthogonally to the two first-mentioned brackets andhaving forwardly projecting beveled flanges overlying said other pair ofsides while converging to the front of said article on an imaginary lineparallel to said other pair of sides, said tie means engaging said otherbrackets and drawing same toward each other.
 9. A display mount asdefined in claim 8 wherein each of said first-mentioned brackets isrigid with a respective one of said other brackets and forms therewithan angle member, said outline having a pair of diagonally oppositecorners respectively engaged by the two angle members so formed.